Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2023
162. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the capital, current and total budget 2023 allocation for the National Space Strategy for Enterprise 2019-2025; the capital, current and total budget 2022 allocation for the National Space Strategy for Enterprise 2019-2025; the percentage difference compared to the budget 2023 allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4483/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Space Strategy for Enterprise 2019 – 2025 sets ambitious goals for how Ireland intends to develop an economically sustainable and expanding space-active industry, delivering quality jobs for the economy of tomorrow. Funding for the space sector in Ireland is not specifically allocated to the National Space Strategy rather, funding is allocated on the basis of our investment in the European Space Agency (ESA) programmes. It is noted however that the National Space Strategy contains a key action to increase public and private investment in ESA by 50% by 2025 - which we are on track to achieve.
The funding allocated to the ESA in 2022 and 2023 as well as the percentage difference are outlined in the following table:
|
|
2022 |
2023 |
% Difference |
|
|
€000s |
€000s |
|
|
REV Base Allocation |
21.37 |
22.87 |
+7% |
|
-Capital |
21.37 |
22.87 |
+7% |
|
-Current |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplementary Estimate |
5.8 |
- |
- |
|
EI Direct Contribution |
3 |
- |
- |
|
Total |
30.17 |
22.87 |
-24% |
While the total level of investment from 2022 to 2023 appears to have fallen by 24% this is due to the significant once-off investment made at the end of last year of €5.8 million through the supplementary estimate and a €3 million investment made via the Science and Technology Development Programme operated by Enterprise Ireland.
In fact, we have increased the overall base allocation to ESA by 7% in 2023 and our continued commitment to invest in Irish space active companies was demonstrated by Ireland's confirmation at the ESA Ministerial Council meeting in November 2022 that we intend to invest €125 million in funding to ESA for the period up to 2027.
Through increased funding of ESA over recent years we have seen the number of Irish based companies engaged with the ESA increasing by 39% since the publication of the Strategy, growing from 70 in 2019 to 97 in 2022. In 2021 16 start-up companies secured ESA contracts and Industry co-investment also increased from €3.3 million in 2020 to over €4.6 million in 2021.
